Sunyani-based DKM Diamond Microfinance has commenced the payment of customer deposits to its clients as directed by the Bank of Ghana.

The company today opened its doors to the public following the lifting of a 120-day freeze on its operations and bank accounts by the Bank of Ghana.  The action was taken after the regulator found DKM culpable of operating outside the banking regulations.

But some customers of the company were this morning left in a state of disappointment as their hopes of getting all their deposits back were dashed. 

Scores of depositors today thronged the offices of the company in the Brong Ahafo and parts of the Northern and Upper West Regions hoping to withdraw their monies.

Some of them told Joy Business they were only given part payment.

“I am half-happy. In fact yesterday when I heard it, it was such a welcoming news for me only to reach the gate and one of the officers told me I won’t get my full capital and that is what is irritating me,” one of them said, “Now I am more than the word irritated. I was also expecting an interest on my investment and the interest is not even being paid. I am also expecting to be given back my capital and someone is telling me I won’t get my full capital. How much of my full capital am I going to get or not? All these are not clear to me.”

Another depositor also said “I am very happy that at least DKM is opening today for us to come and take whatever we want to take and I’m hoping to get this money today so that at least me and my family can laugh small”

But Chief Executive Officer of the company Martin Delle tells Joy Business they are not paying back the monies with interests in compliance to the Bank of Ghana’s directives. According to him, his company has started “operating officially and customers have started walking in to make enquiries about the payment schedules and we are briefing them on all that.”

He added that “payment of depositors monies were going on smoothly in the various branches and that customers across all our branches are being attended to.”

Mr. Delle asked customers to calm down saying there have been some slight delays in the release of monies by the banks which needed a bit of time to verify all the claims before paying.

Responding to concerns that DKM is currently not paying interest on matured deposits as was initially agreed upon, Mr. Delle said “it is a directive from the Bank of Ghana and we cannot violate it. All we are doing is simply following the Central Bank’s directives.”

He assured customers that all deposits will be paid.